The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7232 p72
18 January 2003

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Alzheimer's: call for broader research

Cholinesterase inhibitors have only a modest impact on neuropsychiatric and functional outcomes for patients with Alzheimer's disease, according to a meta-analysis published recently.

The authors of the analysis say that research has focused on reducing cognitive decline. However, as many as 80 per cent of patients experience neuropsychiatric symptoms such as hallucinations, paranoia, agitation and affective disturbances during the course of their illness. They suggest that further research, focused on these components, is now needed to assess how improvements translate into long-term outcomes.

The analysis included 29 trials involving patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease treated for at least one month with a cholinesterase inhibitor (JAMA 2003;289:210).